You've already gotten some terrific advice, but I'd like to add, "Don't be afraid to experiment." Many people think that a pattern can only be tied with the materials listed in the recipe, but 99% of the time this is not true. Change out materials if you feel like it and play around a bit. By Christmas, you will be looking at all the tinsel, ribbons and bows as potential fly tying material to be horded into your man-cave for dissection and integration into new patterns. Good luck and one last thing. Save the first three flies that you complete and keep them where you can see them as you progress. You'll get a kick out of how much better you'll get and the first flies will have sentimental value.
Jim Smith
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